CHERRY JONES; Pity the Poor Critics

Published: August 20, 2006

To the Editor:

Re ''Sometimes You Can See the Sweat'' [Aug. 13]:

With all due respect, I must beg to differ with Charles Isherwood and his criticism of Cherry Jones's work in ''The Faith Healer.''

She transcended even her own high achievements by giving a performance that was not a performance, but an open experience of human despair. It was among the most complex, deeply felt and courageous performances I have ever seen, one I as an actress hope to learn from.

The ''sweat'' and ''strain'' you criticized as belonging to Ms. Jones the actor I saw as belonging to Ms. Jones the human being and Grace the character. As with all great performances, there was no distinction between the two.

In the face of such a breakthrough, quibbles about the technical aspects are, in my opinion, profoundly irrelevant. As sorry as I am for Ms. Jones that her achievement has not been recognized, I am more sorry for the critics who simply did not have the ability to know what they were watching.